Thursday, February 15, 2007

More Weighty Than Edgy

from the new york times:

A DANGER with auto advertising — like Ford ads that promise innovation and bold vehicles — is that people might expect the creation of such vehicles (you think?)

A crossover looks like a sport utility, but is made with car-type components. While a crossover cannot handle traditional S.U.V. tasks like heavy-duty towing or rugged off-pavement travel, in theory it should have a smoother ride, better handling and higher gas mileage than a truck.

One factor that keeps the Edge from being an enthusiast’s delight is its weight. It is a fatso with a curb weight of almost 4,300 pounds with all-wheel drive — hundreds of pounds more than its competitors.

While the brake pedal has a responsive feel, tests by Car and Driver magazine and Edmunds.com’s Inside Line showed it took several car lengths longer than the Murano and Highlander to stop from highway speeds, a clear failure to deal with the curse of inertia.

...that'll be reassuring news to everyone, when the person travelling in front of you on the highway slams their brakes on...

The transmission, a six-speed automatic developed by Ford and General Motors, makes its Ford family debut in the Edge and MKX. The E. P. A. estimates mileage at 17 m.p.g. in town and 24 on the highway. Ford recommends regular fuel.